#7 - Stiffer Buildings Needed

The source discusses a growing global consensus that stiffer, more robust buildings that experience less "drift" or sway during earthquakes perform much better than buildings constructed using traditional methods, particularly in New Zealand. Research conducted using a five-storey prototype in Taiwan demonstrated that components like ceilings, windows, and partition walls sustained less damage in stiffer structures, surprisingly doing much better than previously anticipated. A Canterbury University civil engineering professor suggests that New Zealand should update its building standards to require more robustness, arguing that this change is crucial not just for life safety but also for ensuring buildings, like hospitals, remain functional following a seismic ev ...